Cost Calculator AI
Shipping, Logistics & WarehousingOcean Freight & Intermodal

Container Shipping Cost Calculator

Calculate international ocean container shipping costs for 20ft, 40ft, and 40ft High Cube containers, factoring ocean freight, BAF, CAF, THC, drayage, and demurrage reserves.

Ocean Container & Intermodal Parameters

Total Landed Container

$4,538.50

Door-to-door landed

Ocean Freight & Surcharges

$3,038.50

Base + BAF + CAF

Port Handling & Drayage

$1,150.00

THC + harbor drayage

Documentation & Security

$350.00

ISF, customs, demurrage

Landed Container Shipping Formula

Landed Container Cost = Base Ocean Freight + BAF + CAF + Terminal Handling Charges (THC) + Port Drayage + Customs Docs + Demurrage Reserve
  • Container Types: 20-ft standard (20GP, ~33 CBM), 40-ft standard (40GP, ~67 CBM), 40-ft High Cube (40HC, ~76 CBM).
  • Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF): Floating ocean carrier surcharge compensating for bunker fuel volatility.
  • Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF): Currency exchange rate fluctuation buffer.
  • Terminal Handling Charges (THC): Port crane handling fees assessed at both origin and destination ocean terminals.
  • Port Drayage: Intermodal trucking moving the container between ocean container terminal and inland warehouse.

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Scenario: Shipping a 40-ft standard ocean container from East Asia to US West Coast with \$2,500 base freight, \$450 BAF, 3% CAF, \$550 THC, and \$600 drayage

Calculation Steps:

  1. Ocean Freight Subtotal = \$2,500.00
  2. Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) = \$450.00
  3. Currency Adjustment Factor (3%) = (\$2,500 + \$450) × 0.03 = \$88.50
  4. Terminal Handling Charges = \$550.00
  5. Port Drayage Trucking = \$600.00
  6. Customs Documentation = \$150.00
  7. Demurrage Contingency = \$200.00
  8. Total Landed Container Shipping Cost = \$4,538.50
Result: Total door-to-door landed container cost is \$4,538.50, of which ocean freight and surcharges represent 67% and port/drayage 33%.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. 1Select container size (20ft, 40ft, or 40ft High Cube).
  2. 2Enter base ocean freight quote from shipping line or freight forwarder.
  3. 3Input carrier bunker adjustment (BAF) and currency adjustment (CAF) surcharges.
  4. 4Add port terminal handling charges (THC), local drayage trucking, and customs documentation.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • A 20-ft container holds up to 10 standard 48x40 pallets; a 40-ft container holds 20 to 21 standard pallets.
  • Payload weight cannot exceed statutory road weight limits (typically 44,000 lbs in standard 3-axle combinations).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is port drayage in container shipping?

Drayage is the specialized short-haul trucking service that moves ocean shipping containers over highway roads between container marine terminals, rail ramps, and local distribution warehouses.

What is demurrage and detention in ocean freight?

Demurrage is a penalty fee charged by the marine terminal when a loaded container sits in the port yard beyond allotted free days. Detention is charged by shipping lines when an empty or loaded container is held outside the port beyond contract limits.

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